Chapter 3: Training with Lupe

Aki POV

"Ok so for homework today I want you all to reflect on…" Oh my freaking gosh could this day be any longer! Ok only one more minute… come on bell ring. riiing. Any time now...

CLANG

FINALLY! About damn time! I grab my books and all but run out the door. I don't want to bother go to my locker I'm going straight to Jodie's. I swear the school day felt like it was going by like molasses going up a mountain in January on roller skates! All I could think about was training oh my gosh I'm so excited! I bump into someone and drop all my papers. Sighing I bend over to retrieve my stuff.

"Sorry bout' that let me help you." I look up and see that it was Roy Halfdan the guy who sits beside me in science. He has short messy black hair, brown eyes, and is about a foot taller than me. He is nice and funny, but whenever we talk I feel like he wants to ask me something (not romantic it's not like that) but never does. He is a bit on the odd side too. When I first met him in science he passed me a note asking if I liked black flowers. Weird right?

"Thanks, and sorry that was probably my fault I wasn't really paying attention." I said both of us gathering my papers. I put them in my bag and stand up.

"Thanks again, I'll see you tomorrow in science." I say turning to leave.

"See ya Akli" he said using the nickname he always calls me for some reason. I wave and rush out the door.

I turn onto the street Jodie's place is on when I see her skip her way over to me with the biggest smile imaginable on her face.

"Hey Aki! You excited or what? I am. Lupe's already setting up in there, who knew she had so many floor mats it's like she was planning for this! I told her you get out of school later and I was going to wait outside for you." Jodie said in about three seconds. Oh yea she's hyper today.

"Hey! Yea I'm excited! Let's go in, this is going to be so cool!" I said almost equally as hyper (I don't think I could ever be as hyper as she is I swear this girl has serious energy). Smiling like idiots we ran to the warehouse. We stepped in and Jodie locked the door again. Wouldn't want to have anyone accidently walking in and see a girl turn into a bird, now that would be bad.

I turn and see the tons of those padded mats like the ones at the school gym covering a large section of the floor. There was also several battery powered lamps sitting on cardboard boxes surrounding the mats. I even spotted a couple lamps on the ceiling beams. I wonder how she got those up there I see no ladder and it's a pretty high ceiling…

"You girls ready?" Lupe asked grabbing my attention.

"Yes!" we said immediately. Lupe smiled at us and said,

"Great! I am starting with Aki today because I'm curious to see why her shifting is so out of whack, then I'll start on teaching you both some fighting techniques. That sound good?" we nodded, "ok then Aki can you please come with me. Jodie you can watch if you like but we might need some space." I went and sat with Lupe in the center of the padded floor, and Jodie took a seat on a mat a few feet away.

"Oh before we begin you should put this on. It's made from special fabric so if and when you change back you will be fully clothed." Lupe said handing me a strange bodysuit made of a weird fabric I'd never seen before. "It belonged to a friend who lives close by. It no longer fits her so you may keep it."

"Oh yea I forgot about the naked thing… Thank you." I said and went to Jodie's room to change.

When I came out I sat again with Lupe. The fabric is a bit stiff but strangely soft in a weird way.

"Ok now that we're all ready let's begin!" Lupe said, "Ok Aki can you tell me about the first time you changed, how you felt at the time."

"It happened when I was five. I slipped when I was really high up in a tree and that's when it happened. I felt panic and it was like something was bursting out of me." I explained. Lupe paused before she asked,

"Do you feel panic before you change every time you change?" I nodded, "ok so we have to work on you changing without the panic. What I want you to do now is relax and take a few deep breaths." I did as she asked. "Ok that's good. Now close your eyes. You know how you said you felt something burst form you that is the falcon within you. I want you to try and let that falcon come out. Just relax and allow that part of you to come free. You don't have to be scared of the animal inside you because it can't hurt you and can actually help you." I took a deep breath and pictured a falcon in a cage I opened the cage and let it out. It was like that falcon was actually me. I guess in a way it was. When the falcon burst from the cage I felt freedom. Like I was the one flying from the cage. I feel my feathers break free from my skin. For the first time it feels like this form of me was as natural as my human form. I feel more in control of it now. I open my eyes and see everything with more clarity. Like a veil of fog had lifted away. I look up and Lupe is smiling in approval.

"Good so how are you feeling?" Lupe asked. I make a happy chirping noise. It's so weird hearing myself make that noise…

"Oh my goodness this is so cool!" Jodie exclaimed. She is correct now that I know I don't have to fear my falcon form this is quite awesome. "Hey do you think you can fly? Oh my goodness I just had a thought! We could go into falconry and make money! I wouldn't even have to train you!" Oh Jodie, the things that goes through her mind…

"Not a good idea. We should take this in baby steps. And I think if you tried falconry with her it would be cheating and unfair to the other falconers. I will let Aki have some time to get use to this body before she can start flying. Aki I want you to in mind that being in this form will take some time to get used to. Don't feel let down by this all shifters go through it. I know it took me years to use to having a tail. You are also going to have to get use to picking stuff up with your beak and talons rather than your hands, and getting around more with your arms rather than your legs." I already knew what she meant by that. All the times I've shifted I had always avoided using my wings because I don't know how to really control them. Even breathing feels different, like I'm taking in more air than normal.

"Ok Aki just wait there for a moment." Lupe said and took out some pebbles from her pockets and laid them on the mat. "I want you to start getting use to picking stuff up with your beak and talons. Move all these rocks to where Jodie is sitting." Okaay that seemed a bit simple. I waddle my way over to the pebble pile. Out of habit I try and pick one up with my right wing. Oh right no hands, damn it. I go to pick it up with my beak and I can hold it. A few seconds later the rock pops out of my mouth. Ugh this is so frustrating; I can't even pick up a rock! After a few failed attempts I finally make it to Jodie with the rock. I set the stone down and waddle back up to the pile. After two more stones I really start to despise small rocks.

"Good job Aki your making progress. I was there when my friend Ephraim who is part eagle was in training, and he told me that this was one of the most frustrating lessons for him." Says Lupe, "I want you to continue doing this wile I start with Jodie's lesson." I chirped to let her know I heard her and continued with my task.

AN: Ok i know i said that i would also put Jodie's training in this chapter but this is all i had done and i wont be able to update for a wile so i figured i should put what i had on. anyway thanks to all the people who reviewed! I'll update in about a week and a bit! R&R